Setback for Bruton wage reform plan

THE bitter Coalition wrangle over Fine Gael’s bid to overhaul wage safeguards for the low paid appeared to end in a setback for Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton last night.

A Cabinet agreement to lessen the impact of the proposed reforms by beefing up premium pay rates and giving a stronger role to watchdogs was seen as concession to Labour after the party endorsed €100-a-year household charges.

Mr Bruton last night said new, legally robust measures would be announced before the weekend to protect the low-paid workers.